INDEPENDENT APARTMENTS
FJORD NORWAY
CATCH
A BOAT
A whole range of express boats leave Bergen harbour every day, and you can easily take day trips to some of the lovely villages in the fjords, such as Rosendal with its Manor House in the Hardanger Fjord or the old trading village of Skjerjeham at the entrance of the Sogne Fjord.
RENT
A CAR
You can see a lot of the best Western Norway has to offer by staying in Bergen and taking daytrips by car: The Hardanger Fjord, the Vøringsfossen waterfall, the beautiful island of Lysøen with violonist Ole Bull's villa, the Nærøy Fjord – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and much, much more! Check out car rentals here.
ACTIVITIES IN AND AROUND BERGEN
HIKING
Bergen is surrounded by mountains and hiking is one of our all-time favourite activities. There are plenty of options for all fitness levels, from a stroll in Fjellveien to the four-hour hike across Vidden from Mount Fløyen to Mount Ulriken or even the 7 Mountain Walk organised annually in May. We have maps, and we will be happy to advice you!
KAYAKING
There are numerous options for sea kayaking around Bergen. Bergen Base Camp have 2-hour long tours from Bergen harbour and Noridc Ventures in Voss offer guided tours in the beautiful Nærøy Fjord. If you are experienced paddlers, you can rent kayaks in Bergen and explore the fjords on your own. At the Fisheries Museum, families can rent kayaks and rowing boats.
SKIING
Winters have become mild and snow rather rare in Bergen, but on occasion we still get to enjoy the lit ski tracks at Mount Fløyen, 10 minutes from the city centre. The closes ski resorts are Voss (1 hour by train) and Eikedalen (45 minutes by car).
LIVE MUSIC
Bergen has a very active music scene, with lots of live concerts every week, a few examples being blues concerts at Madame Felle, jazz concerts at USF, and rock concerts at Garage.
CYCLING
CYCLING
Renting a bike is a fabulous way to explore a wider area of Bergen. The closest bike rental is Armadillo Bike Shop & Service, just up the road from the guesthouse. If you are more adventurous, join the thousands of Norwegians who cycle the "Navvies' Road" between Finse and Flåm every year (see video).
FESTIVALS
Throught the year, there are a number of festivals in Bergen, the biggest being Bergen International Festival in May/June. Others are the jazz festival, Nattjazz, in May/June, the music festival Bergenfest in June, the food festival, Bergen Matfestival, in September, the film festival, Biff, also in September and the dance festival, Oktoberdans, in October.
FJORD CRUISE
Most people come to Western Norway to see the fjords and the Fjord Cruise to Mostraumen is a good option if you don't have a car. In three hours, this cruise will take you to Osterfjord and the narrow Mostraumen north of Bergen. – website
NORWAY
IN A NUTSHELL
This tour takes you, by train, ferry and bus, through stunningly beautiful landscapes in Fjord Norway. Beware, however, that the tour is packed with tourists during the summer, particularly the early tour that leaves Bergen at 8.40am. During the winter, it is the only organised tour available to see the fjords. - website
OUR FAVOURITE BARS & RESTAURANTS
A lovely neighbourhood café where they serve delicious soups and light meals (incl. vegetarian & vegan). Also a great place to go for a drink.
BASTANT
DR. WIESENER
Dr. Wiesener is a friendly local pub which also serves lovely food – a mix of traditional Norwegian and international meals (incl. vegetarian).
PINGVINEN
A great pub that serves traditional Norwegian food. It's always excellent, and the prices aren't too bad either!
COLONIALEN
Colonialen at Litteraturhuset (House of Literature) has a café at the front and a brasserie at the back and both serve excellent food!
BIEN
A little outside the centre but easy to find by tram and well worth the
detour. Delicious food and interesting wines and beers.
Website
SPISEKROKEN
An old favourite of ours. Off the tourist track, excellent food and reasonable prices if you go for the "This & That" section of the menu.
LYSVERKET
Excellent restaurant starting to build up an international reputation for their "neo-fjordic" cuisine. Trendy and expensive – for special occasions.
KAFE SPESIAL
If you need a break from all things Norwegian – including Norwegian prices! – Kafé Spesial serves good, international food at very reasonable prices.
DET LILLE KAFFEKOMPANIET
A tiny but excellent coffee house tucked in behind the entrance to the Funicular. Cute factor 10!
DYVEKES VINKJELLER
Named after the mistress of Christian II, king of Norway, Sweden and Denmark in the 16th century. Apparently, the ghost of Dyveke still roams the cellar ... A wonderfully atmospheric place to go for a drink.
ALTONA VINBAR
A truly fascinating spot with a cave-like feel. Find your way into the inner part behind the bar, where even the shortest of us have to duck to get through the door!